The Golden State Warriors have shunned an offer from the San Francisco Giants to build an arena on land next to AT&T Park. Instead, the basketball team is quietly exploring plans to go it alone with a spectacular waterfront arena at Piers 30-32.

For months, the Giants have pushed the idea of teaming up with the Warriors to build a 20,000-seat arena on the ballpark's parking lot or adjoining Piers 48-50.

But there was hardly a mention of the Warriors when Giants executives unveiled their $1.6 billion plan to convert 27 acres around AT&T Park into a new neighborhood of homes, offices, shops, restaurants and parks.

It seems that the Warriors have plans of their own.

"This is an ownership group that is pretty bold and visionary, and the prospect of doing something grand is really alluring to them," said one source familiar with the Warriors' plans.

The Warriors "do not want the Giants to be their middleman," our source said.

Currently, the Warriors are eyeing the 13 acres of concrete and pilings that make up Piers 30-32, the area that at one point was to be the hub of the America's Cup race before regatta organizers ditched those plans.

The city has agreed to put $8 million into shoring up the aging piers, but the site would need an additional $50 million or more in foundation work to handle a major development. That cost has real estate experts questioning whether the arena idea will ultimately pencil out.

On the other hand, the site is closer to downtown and public transportation than the property on the other side of McCovey Cove from AT&T Park. And, unlike Pier 50, which has a maintenance facility and historic sheds, there's only a parking lot atop Piers 30-32, which are located near where Bryant Street hits the Embarcadero.

Toss in the prospect of luring conventions to an iconic-looking arena in the shadow of the Bay Bridge, and the site gives the Warriors plenty of reasons to dream big.

Time is running short for the Warriors, whose lease at Oakland's Oracle Arena expires at the end of the 2016-17 season.

Asked to comment, Warriors spokesman Raymond Ridderwould only repeat what has become the team's mantra: "We are exploring all our options, and no decision has been made."

Big dip: Like a growing number of retirees going back on the civic payroll, San Francisco interim Sheriff Vicki Hennessywill be taking home two hefty checks in the coming months.

Under the voter-approved Proposition F, Hennessy, who retired in 2010 after 30 years in the department, will get the sheriff's $198,968-a-year salary in addition to her annual pension pay of about $170,000 a year.

The double dipping, however, can last only six months. Then Hennessy will have to forgo her pension or drop the new job.

If the Ethics Commission ultimately decides to make Ross Mirkarimi's termination permanent, Hennessy will probably be a shoo-in during the November election.

What are friends for: State Assemblyman Sandré Swanson found himself in an embarrassing spot the other day when he discovered that one of his aides has been advising someone planning to run against Oakland City Council President Larry Reid.

It was doubly embarrassing for Swanson that the aide in question was Mayor Jean Quan's daughter, Lailan Huen.

Huen had given a seminar for African Americans interested in running for public office.

"And one of the people who attended just happens to be planning to run against me," Reid said.

It's no secret that Reid and the mayor have not seen eye to eye on a number of issues, including how she handled the Occupy demonstrations and her 100-block crime-fighting plan.

Quan, in turn, is not happy that Reid has refused to publicly announce his opposition to the effort to recall her.

Whatever the case, Swanson decided to call Reid just to clear up the "misunderstanding."

"I endorse Larry, and I always have," Swanson said.

And finally: When GOP presidential candidate Ron Paulstopped by The Chronicle on Thursday, we couldn't help but ask what he had learned about his fellow Texas Republican Rick Perry from the time they spent time together on the campaign trail.